Topic: Survey setup
A ranking question is a type of question in which participants arrange multiple options or statements in order of personal preference or importance.
It shows which options receive the highest level of agreement, thereby enabling a weighted analysis of preferences or priorities.
The results can also be exported in numerical form using internal values and used for statistical analysis.
Settings and options of the ranking question type:
Response Condition: Number of Responses
This option allows you to specify the maximum, minimum, or exact number of responses a participant may or must provide.
Required question
This option allows you to designate the question as required. The participant must answer the question before proceeding to the next page of the survey.
Help Icon (Tooltip)
This option allows you to include help text or additional information behind a help icon next to the question title.
Randomize
If you enable this option, the ranking options will be displayed to each participant in random order.
Additional Text Field Below the Question
This allows you to provide a text field for comments directly below the question. The width and height (number of lines) of the text field can be freely defined.
“No Answer” Option
This option is particularly useful if the question has been defined as mandatory. It allows participants to “answer” the question even if they do not wish to provide a substantive response, and to continue with the survey.
Internal value
The internal value allows you to replace participants’ responses in the export (Excel, CSV, or SPSS) with custom values. This facilitates further processing of the data later on.
Here’s an example:
Participants are given the following ranking values to create an order:
Since these text values are difficult to work with in Excel or SPSS, you can assign internal values:
The numbers will then appear in the export instead of the text values.
You can assign internal values at any time — either when creating the question or afterward, to optimize the export data.
Upload Image
You can place an image directly within the question.
Advantage: The image can be displayed between the question and the answer options, in addition to the standard image upload in the questionnaire.
You can also adjust the image’s orientation, set its position (above or below the question title), and assign an ALT attribute, which is important for survey accessibility.
Scoring in the Evaluation
In the evaluation (data table), the ranking options are automatically sorted by position.
The option with the highest score appears in the first row, the second in the second row, and so on.
Points are awarded as follows:
The number of ranking options determines the maximum number of points. If an option is placed in the first position, it receives the maximum number of points; in the second position, it receives one point less, and so on.
Options such as “No response” receive no points.
An example:
You have three ranking options and one “No response”:
1. Chocolate
2. Strawberry
3. Vanilla
+ No response
A maximum of 3 points can be awarded:
Position → 3 points
Position → 2 points
Position → 1 point
“No preference” → 0 points
Finally, the points are totaled and divided by the number of ratings submitted to calculate the average.
Ranking Question
A ranking question is a type of question in which participants arrange multiple options or statements in order of personal preference or importance.
It shows which options receive the highest level of agreement, thereby enabling a weighted analysis of preferences or priorities.
The results can also be exported in numerical form using internal values and used for statistical analysis.
Settings and options of the ranking question type:
Response Condition: Number of Responses
This option allows you to specify the maximum, minimum, or exact number of responses a participant may or must provide.
Required question
This option allows you to designate the question as required. The participant must answer the question before proceeding to the next page of the survey.
Help Icon (Tooltip)
This option allows you to include help text or additional information behind a help icon next to the question title.
Randomize
If you enable this option, the ranking options will be displayed to each participant in random order.
Additional Text Field Below the Question
This allows you to provide a text field for comments directly below the question. The width and height (number of lines) of the text field can be freely defined.
“No Answer” Option
This option is particularly useful if the question has been defined as mandatory. It allows participants to “answer” the question even if they do not wish to provide a substantive response, and to continue with the survey.
Internal value
The internal value allows you to replace participants’ responses in the export (Excel, CSV, or SPSS) with custom values. This facilitates further processing of the data later on.
Here’s an example:
Participants are given the following ranking values to create an order:
- My favorite ice cream flavor
- My second-favorite ice cream flavor
- My third-favorite ice cream flavor
Since these text values are difficult to work with in Excel or SPSS, you can assign internal values:
- My favorite ice cream flavor = 1
- My second-favorite ice cream flavor = 2
- My third-favorite ice cream flavor = 3
The numbers will then appear in the export instead of the text values.
You can assign internal values at any time — either when creating the question or afterward, to optimize the export data.
Upload Image
You can place an image directly within the question.
Advantage: The image can be displayed between the question and the answer options, in addition to the standard image upload in the questionnaire.
You can also adjust the image’s orientation, set its position (above or below the question title), and assign an ALT attribute, which is important for survey accessibility.
Scoring in the Evaluation
In the evaluation (data table), the ranking options are automatically sorted by position.
The option with the highest score appears in the first row, the second in the second row, and so on.
Points are awarded as follows:
The number of ranking options determines the maximum number of points. If an option is placed in the first position, it receives the maximum number of points; in the second position, it receives one point less, and so on.
Options such as “No response” receive no points.
An example:
You have three ranking options and one “No response”:
1. Chocolate
2. Strawberry
3. Vanilla
+ No response
A maximum of 3 points can be awarded:
Position → 3 points
Position → 2 points
Position → 1 point
“No preference” → 0 points
Finally, the points are totaled and divided by the number of ratings submitted to calculate the average.